Gwinnett Daily Post

In this 2009 file photo, fans pack Brookwood High School for the Friday Night Lights scrimmage. Mill Creek hosted the first in 2008, followed by Brookwood, North Gwinnett and Norcross last year.

The Atlanta Falcons' Friday Night Lights preseason scrimmage is coming back to Gwinnett.

The NFL team announced Friday morning that this year's Kia Motors Friday Night Lights will be played for the first time at Peachtree Ridge. It is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 3, with gates opening at 6 p.m. and the scrimmage planned for 6:45 p.m.

Each of the four previous Friday Night Lights scrimmages have been in Gwinnett. Mill Creek hosted the first in 2008, followed by Brookwood, North Gwinnett and Norcross last year. All four previous sessions have been packed with fans.

The event is open to the public and admission is free. The grass roots event includes a fan fest with interactive inflatable games, sponsor activation, a post-event autograph session and a fireworks show. During the live scrimmage, several players including the Falcons quarterbacks, and certain position players will wear microphones so fans can get a closer look at the action on the field.

“Kia Motors Friday Night Lights is a great event that has grown throughout the years and gives our fans a chance to get an up close and personal experience with our team as we prepare for the 2012 season,” Falcons senior vice president of sales and marketing Jim Smith said. “We truly appreciate the tremendous support from each community we have gone to since the beginning of the event.”